Questions re 28 Day Wait to transfer to New Supplier

[Deleted User]

masonic said:

When the 10 working day lockout period and the 14 calendar day cooling off period run consecutively, then it is not possible to switch more than once every 28 days. However, if a supplier is willing to allow the lockout period and cooling off period to run concurrently, it would be possible to switch as frequently as every 14 days, while the minimum practical time for a switch is 17 days. The Ofgem paper around advanced registrations points out that an advanced registration can be submitted any time up to the day before the switch is due to take place, and as such the gaining supplier can resubmit the advanced registration later on during the cooling off period should they be willing, thus preserving the originally quoted switching date.

Discussion in the Yorkshire Energy thread has confirmed that in practice this is what is going on (see this post).

Thanks for confirming that this lockout period appears to be in place still.  The practicality of which would mean that say I transfer to AVRO with a new supply date of say 1st Feb and I then decide to transfer to another provider on 2nd February (why I would do this???) there would a lock on subsequent transfer application until the 11th working day afterwards (effectively another fortnight in time) such that any transfer applications would probably be rejected until 16th Feb using my example.  This probably explains why the poster has been advised to let Green re-submit 14 days after the initial try.   It would also imply that I personally cannot attempt to leave SP until transfer of registration has taken place (as shown on the electricity database) which was 1st January + 10 working days -> circa 18th January!  Does this sound about right (worst case scenario)?  

masonic

[Deleted User] said:

It would also imply that I personally cannot attempt to leave SP until transfer of registration has taken place (as shown on the electricity database) which was 1st January + 10 working days -> circa 18th January!  Does this sound about right (worst case scenario)?  

That is the worst case scenario if you absolutely want to avoid the possibility of having to get in touch with your prospective new supplier in order to ask them to try again.

If you instead wanted to leave as soon as possible, and don't mind the possibility of following up with your new supplier, then a switch started once the national database has been updated will likely lock in a start date 17-21 days later even though the new supplier won't be able to register for the supply until day 15 of the 17-21 days.

[Deleted User]

masonic said:

[Deleted User] said:

It would also imply that I personally cannot attempt to leave SP until transfer of registration has taken place (as shown on the electricity database) which was 1st January + 10 working days -> circa 18th January!  Does this sound about right (worst case scenario)?  

That is the worst case scenario if you absolutely want to avoid the possibility of having to get in touch with your prospective new supplier in order to ask them to try again.

If you instead wanted to leave as soon as possible, and don't mind the possibility of following up with your new supplier, then a switch started once the national database has been updated will likely lock in a start date 17-21 days later even though the new supplier won't be able to register for the supply until day 15 of the 17-21 days.

Thanks for your thoughts.  Still mulling over whether to go for the same Dual Fuel supplier (AVRO) which no exit fees for a 12 month contract or single suppliers Neon Reef (elec) + Zog (gas) - slightly cheaper combined but with exit fees.  The SP tariff for my usage is less than £10 pcm more than either of the above options so I'm not quite as desperate to leave SP as I was BG.  Rest assured I will soon though.  I remember the hastle last year in trying to contact YE re re-submissions and don't wish to repeat the experience.  Looking back on the dates, it was this lock-in that probably screwed me in getting the process started first time round.

phillw

[Deleted User] said:
The SP tariff for my usage is less than £10 pcm more than either of the above options so I'm not quite as desperate to leave SP as I was BG.

Mine is around £7 a month more, but I would rather have that money than a company who is responsible for being stuck with them.